Legislation

Registrars and collections specialists must stay up-to-date on the requirements and benefits available under the law. These links will take you to statements of current legislation on important issues.

The International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR) is a not-for-profit educational and research organization dedicated to integrity in the visual arts. IFAR offers impartial and authoritative information on authenticity, ownership, theft, and other artistic, legal, and ethical issues concerning art objects. IFAR serves as a bridge between the public, and the scholarly and commercial art communities. They publish the quarterly IFAR Journal; organize conferences, panels, and lectures; offer a unique Art Authentication Research Service; and serve as an information resource.

IFARalso released a video from their November 24, 2015 seminar, What the Art World Needs to Know About the Ivory Ban and the Proposed Federal Rule. Join their distinguished specialists as they discuss the poaching crisis; how the existing laws and the Proposed Rule that are intended to address the crisis impact the art community, and how the various factions of the art community have responded to the proposed regulatory changes.

International Legislation Related to Museum Property/Disposal of Museum Property/Abandoned Property Often at the urging, and sometimes even with the participation, of registrars and collection managers, several countries have passed legislation focused on issues of objects on deposit or held without clear title by museums. This document is a living document. If your country or state is not listed, please email us at info@arcsinfo.org to contribute to this vital resource.

CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and FloraCITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species. The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.

USFWS Moves to Ban Commercial Elephant Ivory Trade-Questions & Answers. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is currently undertaking a series of administrative actions to implement a nearly complete ban on commercial elephant ivory trade. These actions involve different timelines and processes, some of which will go into effect immediately and others which are open to public comment. The page linked to above is for guidance only.

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The Mission of ARCS is to represent and promote Registrars and Collections Specialists, nationally and internationally, to educate them in the professional best practices of registration and collections care, and to facilitate communication and networking.